Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-11

Curtin of the select committee created b.
the House of Representatives to inquire
into the cause and extent of the western
railroad strikes to day submitted the Ire
port Of that committee. By far the large
part Of the report is devoted to a histOrl
OF the origin and progress Of the Missouri
Pacific strike and a recapitulation of the
testimony taken by the committee. II
summing up the report says: "With re
gard to the general question of the night
of v orkmen 10 combine for determining
with their employers the terms on which
only they viii consent to work for them,
provided the combinations be perfectly
voluntary and full liberty be Left to ell
other WOrkmen to undertake the work
anG no obstruction be placed in the way
OF the employer resorting elsewhere in
this country III the search OF a supply OF
labor, we think there is 20 around for in
justice or sound policy for with
holding such right from Workmen.
1t cannot he doubted that q demand
backed by 8 resolution of a large body of
/ workmen to decline 70 work if the de-
mand be not aCceded to, comes with
/ mere force than that OF isolated work
men. WOrkmen may reasonably claim to
be allowed any advantage which they can
/ derive from such concerted action in
/ bargaining with employers from time TO
time as TO the terms on which they will
dispose Of their labor. Bat upon the
same principle and for precisely q SINH
lar reason, whilst COncedin% TO such
WOrkmen as desire TO exercise sn eX-
tended right to combine against their
employees, especial care should be taken
thai an equal right be secured TO those
wOTkmen who desire 10 keep alOOf from
the combination and dispose of their l.
Dor with perfect individual freedom.
Workmen who think it for their 6dvan-
/ tage To combine together in the disposal
of their labor are no more Justified
in cOnstraining any other man
who does not desire TO
enter such combination and bring his
labor into the common stock with theirs
than an association Of capitalists are, in
combining to advance prices of rates Of
transportation to be paid by the general
public. There can be no doubt that con-
centration of wealth and power and OPP
prtssiOns which have occurred, as shown
in the evidence taken, have promoted IN
rest of labor. This is painfully apparent.
Whatever remedy will give proper prOtec-
ton to capital invested IN railroads of the
country and at the same time protect en-
plOyeS from iTiustiCa and oppression,
your committee propose that they shall
together rs q single instrument of
our Interstate commerce be looked
upon as servants OF the people
of the United States and as
such be regulated and protected by law.
Whatever may be the defects OF the in
ter-state commerce law, an enlightened
commission soon to be appointed will
recommend prompt legislation to give the
protection which is needed to those VINO
are Interested only in the regular and
proper operation and management of rail
roads. The ms iority of your committee
cannot believe that arbitration can be
effective, for the re&SOn that there must
be two parties to arbitration, and either
may decline, and when disturbances
occur it would not be effective in imme-
diately redressiug wrongs Or restoring
the means Of transit of persons and prop
erty to the people of the country.
It will be found in evidence that there
were grievances Of which the labOrers
and workmen OF the roads had jUstreason
to complain, and these may have extended
CT enlarged the strike. The general OPP
preston or grievances complained of was
over certain labOrers or persons employed
ON the road. NOticeably, they were asked
to work more hours than we're contracted
for. They were reducing them without
notice. They were carried by railroads
in the night without provision being
made whereby they could obtain sleep, to
make repairs of bridges or on parts of
the road which had been destroyed by
accident, or they were not allowed pay
for their travelling at night and in some
instances even were not given Transports
ton on the road back to their homes.
These grievances were to a great extent
unhappy incidents of the dispute leading
to the strike. It IS also shown that the
Texas and Pacific Company had what is
known as "b!aCk list" which contained
the names of some OF the persons. Byno
combination Cf capital or to no extent OF
incorporated power can the listing OF an
American citizen as being unworthy of
employment be justified Having cited
the express provision of The constitution
authorizing Congress to regulate COM
me2ce among the states, we need but
refer to the statutes enacted protect
ing post roads and those regulating
commerce upon the high seas and on our
navigabIe rivers in defining the duties,
Obligations of and penalties fixed therein
as proof that ample power to control and
regulate. so far as Interstate commerce is |
inEOlved, as we'll the rights and duties of
employer as CT employees. There it exists,
and has been and may be further eXer-
Cised. This IS an unanimous report, bit
it must be remembered that all legiS O.
ton is the result of compromise, and,
therefore, individual members Of the com
mittee reserve the right to differ from
some of the conclusions. The statement
attached to the report shows that the ex-
penSes of the investigation aggregated
S4002.
APPROVED By THE PRESIDENT.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The President
to-day approved the act to authorize the
President OF the United States to protect
and defend the rights of American fishing
vessels, American fishermen, American
trading and other vessels "a the British
Dominions of North America; the Indian
appropriation bill; the act to establish
agricultural experiment stations; the act
to provIGe for the erection of a branch
home for disabled volunteer soldiers west
of the Rocky noun tains, and the act re-
latiEg to contested elections.
SENTENCES C0&MUTED.
WASHINGTON, MATCH he TTeS4uenG
has committed the death sentence in the
case of John Washington and bmmOns
Wolfe, two Seminole Indians, to impris-
onment for life. These Indians were con-
victed Of rape on the person OF a white
woman in the Indian Territory, and were
sentenced to be hung February S last.
The President granted a respite until
March 4, and has committed the sentence.
His action was bGCni on fhp a nuhf
the guilt of the Indians.